End-labeling attachment



T. J EN SEN END LABELING ATTACHMENT Sept. 20, 1949.

- s Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1945 FIG. I

INVENTOR THQRMOD JENSEN BY M70 ATTORNEY Sept; 20, 1949. TJENS N 2,482,711

END-LABELING ATTACHMENT I Filed D66. 12, 1945 3 Sheet s-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

IN VENTOR THORMOD JENSEN ATI'ORNEY T. JENSEN ENDLABELING ATTACHMENT Dept. 20; 1949. 1

Filed Dec. 12, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3y .INVENTOR THORMOD JENSEN BY I J? ATTORNEY mailed so 20. 1mv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J I 2.4mm sun-manna ATTACHMENT Thor-mod Jensen, Laurelton, N, Y., m to American Machine &' Foundry. Company, a corporationof New Jersey Application December 12, 1945, SerialNo. 034.524

scl lms. ((1215-30) This invention relates to labeling apparatus,

more particularly to an end-labeling attachment for wrapping machines.

In prior end labeling attachments a pair of label webs having equally spaced notches alon its lateral edges was fed into positions adjacent the end of a package, and the labels to be applied to the package were separated from the webs by cutting across the notches. The notching of the label webs was found to be desirable to obtain labels whose corners were cut away whereby curling of the corners or the labels when applied I attachment;

to the package was prevented. Moreover the notches 'in the label web were engaged by lugs on a feed drum to feed the label web to the label severing knife. Due to the equal spacing of the notches in the label web, the formation of different sizes of labels in the same end labeling attachment was not possible. 7

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a labeler in which different lengths of labels may be severed from a label web. To obtain labels of the desired size the label web is provided with indicia imprinted at predetermined equal intervals thereon and each indicia successively stops a photoelectrically controlled mechanism for feeding the label, so that the web will be stopped at a predetermined position relative to a pair of punches which form aligned notches in the opposite edges of the web. The feeding of the web is then automatically resumed to advance the notches to a position opposite a cutter whichsevers the web across the notches to provide a label suitable for application to the package. when a different length of label is required, a label web having a different spacing of the indicia is used whereby the indicia on this web will stop the web feeding mechanism, so that the punches will form notches with a different spacing along the edges of the web. The distancebetween the punches and the label severing knife is varied to align the notches with the knife. Then, when the labels are severed along these notches, labels having a different length will be produced.

A further object of the inventionis to dispense with the use of notched label webs which are more expensive than unnotched label webs. With my construction, a label web having a uniform width throughout its length may be employed to provide the desired size of label.

Still another object of the invention is to provide labels of different widths. Heretofore label webs of only one width could be employed in end labeling attachments of the type shown in the Weida Patent 2,349,317. In my improved labeler the notching punches may be adjusted toward and away from each other to accommodate dif ferent widths of label webs. a

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which willbe'hereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings which partofthisspeciflcation:

8. 1 is a side elevation of the end-label Fi 2 is an end from line 2-2 of Fig. 1; g

Fig. 3 is a sectional end elevation illustrating the photo-electric registering device and drive centrol mechanism; and

Fig.4isa cillustrationofthe essential elements of the end-label attachment. The end-label attachment illustrated in the accomli 1 .l i 8- drawings has a construction similar to that disclosed in Patent-2,349,317 granted to M. I Weida, May 23, 1944. In my construction the label material is pulled from a roll R .(Fig. 1) intheform ofawebwbymeans ofa pair of intermittently rotating feed rollers and I: which feed the web past an oscillating cutting knife ll which at the proper time cuts individual labelsfrom said web. 1 v x .The roll R. is supp rted by. a-reel l6 mounted on a shaft II which is supported by suitable bearwhich meshes with another bevel gear 36 mounted on a sleeve 38 loosely supported on a stud Ill held by housing 22. To sleeve 38 is furthermore secured a gear 42 which meshes with a gear 46 loosely mounted on a stud 46 secured to housing 22. The gear 44 has integrally formed thereon acam 48 to the hub of which issecured a disk 50 carrying a crank pin 52 on which is pivoted one end of a connecting arm 54. The other end of said arm is pivotally connected by a pin to a crank lug 56 (Fig. 3) loosely mounted on a shaft 58 supported in'suitable bearings of housing 22. On the pin connecting the crank lug 56 to the arm M, is pivoted a pawl so which is held by a form a elevation of the same as seen with a gear." (Fig. 1) which in turn drives a gear 12 (Fig. 2). The latter is loosely-mounted on a stud 14 held by a bearing lug I6 of housing v guided in elongated slots of a suitable lug m 22. The hub of gear "is coupled with the hub of one of the web feeding rollers I2 which is also loosely mounted on stud 14. Gear 16 is integral with the other feed roller I6 which is loosely mounted on a stud 18 also held by bearing lug 16. The male portion 64 of the clutch is engaged with or disengaged from the female portion 66 bymeans of a forked lever 86 which engages with the hub of said male portion 64. Lever 86 is pivoted to'a stud 62 (Fig. 3) which is held by suitable bearing lugs. Lever 86 is normally held in position to engage clutch portion 64 with clutch portion 66, by a tension spring 83. The web W is guided from the reel over a take-up roller 84 and a guide roller 86 onto a horizontal table plate 88 extending from the side wall of housing 22 and is then engaged by the co-,-acting feed rollers I6 and I2. Upon leaving said feed rollers the web is guided through a guide chute 56 past the oscillating cutting knife I4 (Fig. 1) which cuts a label ofi the end of the web W. 'The cut end label drops into a pocket ,of the same form and construction as the one disclosed in above mention Patent 2,-

349,317. The end label is then pressed against the end of a passing-package P .by an applier head 52 which is also of the same shape and construction as the one disclosed in the above mentioned patent. The cutting knife I4 is hooked up with the applier head and actuated in the same manner as disclosed in said patent, namely through an adjustable connecting rod 64 by means of which the applier head is connected with an arm 56 mounted on a. short shaft 98 which is oscillated by means of a cam lever I66 (Fig. 1) carrying a roller I62 engaging with the cam 48 mentioned. heretofore. struction of the knife I4 and the mounting of the same tocut the label is fully described in Weida Patent 2,349,3l'l, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

To shaft 58 is furthermore securedan arm I64 the free end of which by means of a link I66, is connected to a lever I68 loosely mounted on a stud 6 held by a suitable lug of housing 22. From the hub of lever I68 extends another-arm .2 whose free end is provided with an elongated slot II4 (Fig. 1) which engages with a stud II6 mounted on a pair of lugs N8 of a member I26. Member I26 isprovided with elongated slots I260 in which are secured the upper ends of a pair of punches or notching plungers I22. Nuts I2I are threaded on the upper ends of the plungers I22 and'secure the plungers to member I26. The lower ends of punches I22 are normally above the table plate 8 and each of the punches is aligned with a corresponding notch or cut-out portion I24 at each side edge of said table plate 88, so that at each downward movement of said punches I22 the web W is provided with a pair of notches N at the opposite edges of the web. Plunger-s I22 are properly Since the conextending from housing 22. Since the notching mechanism is actuated by means of the same cam 48 as the cutting knife I4,the notching and label lcutting operations take place simultaneouslybut at diflerent stations. I

In order to maintain the printed matter or design appearing on each end-label in properposition in relation to the-notches of the label,

the web feeding mechanism is provided with a photoelectric registering device which stops the I web at the proper position. For this reason the web is provided with properly spaced dots or indicia D which are printed in properly spaced relation to the printed matter or designs on the web W, with the dots so arranged on the web as to coincide with the sections which are to be notched. Thephotoelectric registering device consists of a detector unit I26 which is-mounted plungers equal to the length of a label, or a plurality of the labels, to be cut, The detector unit consists 01' a photoelectric cell I28 which is responsive to the light reflected by'the passing mark or dot D on the web. A beam of light from an incandescent lamp I36is projected on this dot by a condensing lens I62 and a focusing lens 134. The lamp I36'is supplied with electricity from a power line I66 is also connected to an'amplifier I38 of conventional construction.

The latter is controlled by the photoelectric cell I28 in the customary manner when the beam of light strikes the dot D on web W while the same is beingadvanced over table 88, since the intensity of the light cast on photoelectric cell I26 is diminished and the passage of electric current through the photoelectric cell is materially decreased or interrupted. This decrease in current through the photoelectric cell affects the flow of current through the amplifier I38 sufliciently to energize a'relay I46 and thereby close a contact I42. The supply lines I36 are connected to the contact I42 so that when the latter is closed, the line current will flow through and energize a solenoid I4. The armature of solenoid I is connected by a link I46 to the forked clutch control arm 86. Thus when solenoid I42 is energized it causes a disengagement of the male clutch portion 64 from female clutch portion 66 and thereby stops the feeding of the web W. A switch I46 of conventional construction is connected to one of the supply lines I26 and also connected to the other supply line through the lock-in relay I52 and the lead connecting solenoid I44 to .contact I42. The opening and shown. Thus the solenoid I44 will remain energized and the clutch will be held out of engament until the switch I46is opened again by cam I56 at the beginning of the next forward stroke of crank lug 56. The opening of switch I46 stops the current to the solenoid, deenergizes the lock-in relay I52 and breaks lock-in contact I62a. In order to properly operate this type of ae-r11 g 8 registering devicefa slight over-feed action is necessary.

The same type of no-package no-label control shown in Welda Patent No. 2,849,317 may be provided including 'a pawl knock-out as illustrated in said Patent No. 2,349,317 by moving an arm I60 (Fig. 3) into the path of the oscillating pawl 60." The latter is thus prevented from engaging with ratchet 82 on feed shaft 88, thus stopping the intermittent rotation of shaft 58.

' Arm I 60 is actuated by means of a vertical shaft I52 to which isalso secured a lever I84 whichby meansof a stud I86 is connected to an adjustable rod I68 leading to a feeler mechanism of the same type and description as disclosed in the above mentioned patent.

In the normal operation of my improved end labeling attachment a predetermined maximum length of label is severed by the knife I4. The distance from the center of the cut out portions I24 of table 88 to the knife I4 is proportioned to align the centers of each successive pair of notches with the knife I4 when the Web W is intermittently advanced by feed rolls I and I2 when th notches have a maximum spacing. Therefore labels having a maxim-um length will be severed.

If a shorter length of label is required the roll R is removed from the end labeling attachment and replaced by a roll of label materialhaving a closer spacing of the dots'D. For example if the dots D on web W should have a maximum spacing at 5 inch intervals, then labels having a 5 inch length will be severed. In case the web W should be replaced by a label web having a 3 inch spacing of the dots D then labels having a 3 inch length will be severed.

However the length of the section of the label web extending between the centers of the out out portions I24 and the knife I4 must be varied, if shorter labels are to be severed. For this purpose the label web W can be guided over a roller I10 supported on a stud I12 passing through an elongated slot I14 in extension I16 formed on lug I23. The stud I12 has threaded on one end thereof a nut I18 which secures the stud I12 to extension I16. Thus upon guiding the leading end of web W over the roller I10 a loop WI will be formed in the web,'and the leading end of the web is then inserted between the feed rolls I0 and I2 and through the guide chute 90 so that its free end will hang down below the knife I4. Upon unlooseningthe nut I18 and adjusting the stud I12 upwardly or downwardly in slot I14 the size of loop W1 may be varied to align the center of a pair of notches with the knife I4. It will be understood that preferably one of the ink spots or dots on the label web should be centered with the overlying notching plunger I22 when the loop W1 is formed to align a pair of notches with knife I4.

To retain the label web against the plate 88 when it is looped over roller I10, there is provided a roller I80 which extends across the portion of plate 88 in front of the out out portions I24. Roller I80 is supported on an extension I82 of the bracket 18.

' Preferably the distance between the notching plunger and the ink spot'at the detecting device I2'6'shou1d be maintained equal to or a multiple of the spacing between a pair of adjoining printed spots on one or the edges of the label web. Therefore the detecting device is adjustable 6 to conform to closer or greater spacings of the printed spots on different label webs. For this purpose the plate 88 is provided with an elongated slot I80 in a vertical flange formed thereon and .the detecting unit I28 is secured to said flange by abolt I82 passing through the slot I80. Upon unloosening bolt I82 the detecting unit I28 may be adjusted toward and away from the notchin plunger I22. By means of this adjustment ink spots having different spacings on diiferent webs will be notched out of the label web. Therefore the printed design on the-severed labels will have relationship to the edges of the label for difierent lengths.

After the above described adjustments are carried out the notches in the edge of the label web will be formed at.3 inch intervals, if the ink spots are printed on the web at 3 inch intervals; or at any other spacing of the ink spots which is shorter than the maximum spacing of the ink spots that can be handled in the normal operation of the apparatus.

To accommodate label webs of wider or narrower width, the nuts I2I are 'unloosened and the upper ends of the notching plungers I22 are adjusted in .slots I20a of member I20 to form notches in the desired width of label web. It will be understood that the table plate88 should be modeled to suit the particular width of label web which is to be handled. The plate 88 can be made detachable from the housing 22, so that it can be replaced by another plate having .a spacing of the cut out portions I24 conforming to th desired width of label web. a

What is claimed is:

1. In a labeler, the combination with means for feeding a continuous web of label material, of devices for forming spaced notchm in the lateral edges of the web, a knife for severing the web across the notches to form labels whose corners are cut away, and mechanism for applying the severed label to a package.

2. In a labeler, the combination with means for intermittently feeding a continuous web of label material by constant increments, said web bearing printed indicia which are equally spaced along the length of the web at intervals which are shorter than the increments by which said web is fed by said means, of devices for forming notches in the lateral edges of the web while the movement of the web is interrupted, a photoelectric control which connected to said web feeding means and responsive to the movement of indicia on the web into predetermined posirt-ion, for stopping the web feeding means while said devices form notches'in the web whereby the notches in the web will be formed at predetermined positions relative to said indicia.

3. In a labeler, the combination with means for intermittently feeding a continuous web of label material by constant increments, said web bearing printed indicia which are equally spaced along the length of the web at intervals which are shorter than the increments by which said web is fed by said means, of devices for forming notches in the lateral edges of the web while the movement of the web is interrupted, aphotoelectric control which is connected to said web feeding toward and away from the notching plunger-s I22 trol and said devices to permit indicia having different spacings on diflerent webs to be notched out by said devices.

4. In alabeler, the combination with means for intermittently feeding a continuous web of label material by constant increments, said. web

bearingprintedindiciawhichareequallyspaced along the length of theeweb at intervals which are shorterthantheincrementsbywhichsaldweb. is fed by said means, of devices for forming notchesinthelateraledgesofthewebwhilethemovel0 ment of the web is interrupted. a photoelectric control which {is responsive to the tof indicia on the web into predetermined position, for stopping the'web feeding .means while said devices form notches in the web, a knife for severing the web across the-notches to form labels whose corners are cut away, and 'mechanism'for applying the severed labels to a package.

I 5. In a labeler, the combination with meansfor intermittently feeding a continuous web of label 20 material by constant-increments, said web beari ing printed indicia which are equally spaced 810118 the length of the web at intervals-which are shorter than the increments by which said web I is fed by-said means, of devices for forming 2'5 position, for stopping the web feeding means sowhile said devicesform notches in the web, a

knife for severing the web across the notches-to form labels whose cornersare cut away. and means for varying thelength of the section of the label web intermediate said devices and knife 85 whereby label;webs having various spacings of indiciamaybefedbysaidmeanstocausesaid devices to form notches at different intervals andpermitsaidknifetoseverthelabslwebacross the notches to form different lengths of labels.

6. In a labeler, the combination with means for feeding a continuous web of label material, of devices for forming spaced notches in the lateral edges of the web. a knife for severing the web across the notches to form labels whosecorners are'cut away, and mechanism for applying the severedlabeltoapackage,saiddsvicesbeing adjustable toward and away from each other to accommodate label webs of different widths.

. '7. In a labeler the combimtion withmeans for notching and severing a continuum label web to form labels having their corners cut away,

of mechanism for applyin said labels to a pack- "8. In a labeler, the combination with means fornotching and severing a continuous label web 1 to form labels. having their corners-cutaway. of mechanism for applying said labels to a package,

a device for feeding saidlabel web into the range of action of said means, said label web being provided with equally spaced indicia, of a photoelectric control which is connected to said webfeeding device and responsive to the movement of said indicia into predetermined position, for stopping-the web feeding device while the label web is being notched and severed. and instrumentalities for automtically restarting said webfeeding device after a label is severedfrom the web.

' THOR-MOD No references cited. 

